Greece freezes accounts of European Parliament deputy accused of colluding with Qatar

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Greece has frozen financial assets of MEP Eva Kaili, one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament, following accusations that the politician and former TV presenter participated in a corruption scheme involving Qatar, host of the World Cup.

As reported this Monday (12) Haralambos Vourliotis, president of the body that monitors cases of money laundering, bank accounts and other assets of Kaili and her close relatives were blocked by banking institutions and state bodies.

One of the focuses of the investigation is a real estate company recently created by the MEP, who has occupied one of the deputy seats in the European Parliament since January, along with an Italian, in the Kolonaki neighborhood, a luxurious area in the capital Athens. The partner is also investigated.

Four people were arrested accused of participating in a criminal organization that practiced money laundering and corruption. Although the names of those arrested were not disclosed, news agencies found that the social democrat was one of the prisoners in the operation, as well as her partner.

The European Parliament said at the weekend it had suspended Kaili from her duties in the House, and her party, Pasok (Pan-Hellenic Socialist Party), said it would expel her from its ranks.

According to Belgian prosecutors, the case, one of the biggest corruption scandals in the recent history of the European Parliament, involves the delivery of bribes from Doha to try to influence decisions of the European Union (EU). The amounts would have been handed over to people with strategic positions in parliament — as is the case with Kaili.

EU foreign ministers, who meet on Monday to discuss possible new economic sanctions against Russia and Iran, expressed concern and repudiation. German Chancellor Annalena Baerbock said the episode put Europe’s credibility at stake. “This should trigger consequences in several areas.”

The head of EU diplomacy, the Spaniard Josep Borrell, in turn, told journalists that the news is very worrying, and the Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, said that relations between Qatar and the EU must be strengthened, but without being ignored labor and human rights abuses in the Gulf country.

In a speech at the European Parliament on the 21st, at the start of the Cup, Kaili described Qatar as a “pioneer in labor rights”. “They committed themselves and opened up to the world. They helped us and they are peace negotiators; they are good neighbors and partners.”

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